Western Australia’s public schools faced over 1,100 lockdowns last year, with new Education Department figures revealing a dramatic rise in violent threats that forced students to shelter inside classrooms. Please confirm all political information with a trusted source.
The data, tabled in Parliament this week, shows 1,327 lockdown incidents, most sparked by threats of physical assault, intimidation, or verbal, written and cyber abuse. Lockdowns varied from single‑classroom responses to whole‑school emergencies, with students ordered to stay low, lock doors and pull down blinds until the “all clear” was issued.
Opposition education spokesperson Liam Staltari called the surge “staggering,” arguing that families deserve confidence in school safety. He said responsibility ultimately rests with the government, adding that “brushing this away is not going to cut it with parents or teachers or students.”
Education Minister Sabine Winton acknowledged the increase, noting that reporting has risen since the government introduced its Incident Management Manual in 2020. She said principals are empowered to suspend or exclude students who instigate violence, stressing that threats “at school, or anywhere in the community, are unacceptable.”
The Department’s Incident Support Unit has expanded face‑to‑face training to help staff identify when lockdowns are required and respond appropriately.
The figures do not include full school evacuations, but recent incidents highlight the severity of the problem. Last year, Ellenbrook Secondary School went into lockdown after a teenage boy was stabbed in a targeted knife attack. At least 10 teenagers were charged, with weapons including knives and an axe used in the assault.
As WA prepares for a new school term, the rising number of lockdowns underscores growing concerns about student safety and the urgent need for stronger prevention and intervention strategies.
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